PHOENIX — David Wright is in some rare company. One of his best memories is hitting against Mariano Rivera. Not many hitters can say that.

“I have the distinct honor to tell my kids and grandkids one day that I got a walk-off hit against him,’’ Wright recalled Thursday at Chase Field as Team USA prepared for Friday night’s opener against Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. “Obviously that’s one of the highlights for me and for as passionate New York fans are about the Subway Series to deliver a walk-off hit against the greatest closer in the game will definitely be a good story for my kids and grandkids one day.’’

That hit came in a 7-6 victory over the Yankees on May 19, 2006 at Shea Stadium. Those were heady days for Wright and the Mets, who won 97 games that season.

“It went over Johnny Damon’s head in center field,’’ Wright said of that clutch hit that drove home Paul Lo Duca.

As for Rivera’s pending announcement that he will retire after the season, Wright said he has mixed feelings bout it.

“On one hand it’s the end of something, obviously great and historic, but on the other hand it’s a relief because we play those guys every year and I know how tough of an at-bat it is against him,’’ he said.

That’s what makes that walk-off hit even more exciting. Wright is 2-for-7 lifetime against Rivera with two RBIs and one strikeout. Rivera commands respect from his peers because he gives respect.

“Just from the few times I’ve been around him, he has been nothing but class, very nice to me,’’ Wright said. “It just seems like he is a professional the way he goes about his business and the way that he handles himself and the results speak for themselves on the field.

“There are certain players, when you see them, no matter what you’ve done in the game, when you see them, there is a certain awe about them. I think Mariano has that no matter if you are a Yankee or a Met or a Red Sox, whatever, you just have the utmost respect for guys like that. I’ve always enjoyed watching him pitch.’’

The most amazing part of Rivera’s career is that he accomplished all of this with one pitch, the world’s nastiest cutter.

“He’s gone out there and dominated and basically can tell you what’s coming and you still can’t hit it,’’ Wright said. “There are not too many pitchers who have the ability to do that. It’s impressive.’’

There also are not too many hitters who possess a wonderful walkoff memory against Rivera.